7/10/2012: 'Nashville' stars blend right in

Oct. 9, 2012

Written by

The Tennessean

Country music fans from across the country have flocked to Nashville for CMA Music Festival, but this week ABC has brought Nashville to Nashville.

The television network will air its new drama named after Music City as part of its Wednesday night fall lineup, and this week it is introducing the show's stars to fans.

On Friday, Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio did a question and answer session in the ABC tent on Broadway. Today, one of the series stars, Hayden Panettiere (from Heroes), will make an appearance.

Both Bowen and Palladio are Australian natives who have adopted a sweet Southern twang for Nashville and other recent projects. "I have been happily typecast as a Southerner," the blond-haired Bowen said.

The show's actors filmed the pilot in Nashville this spring at historic places like the Ryman and Bluebird Cafe, and they will all move to Nashville for this season's production, which begins in July.

The series is set against the backdrop of this city's music scene.

The storyline revolves around one star just past her peak and another on the rise.

In addition to the city's musical history, the actors are enjoying Southern food.